By C. L. Cook, Canadian Free Press, Mar. 9 2011

Vandana Shiva was scheduled to speak tonight in Calgary, Alberta, spiritual home of far right Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper. But, like other activists and writers trying to enter Canada lately, things didn’t go smoothly for her. Shiva is also scheduled to receive tomorrow a University of Calgary’s Consortium for Peace Studies award. (Please see below break for details). Swerve Calgary reports Shiva is being held tonight at the Canada/U.S. border due to “an issue with her visa.”

Vandana Shiva now joins a lengthening list of dissident writers, reporters, and activists harried by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA).

In 2009, then British MP George Galloway was not allowed entry into Canada due to his alleged support for Palestinian groups listed by the CBSA as terrorist organizations. Galloway took the case to court, where Stephen Harper’s government was rebuked.

Last year, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! found herself cooling her heels at the border when Canadian agents refused to believe she was not going to Vancouver to report critically on the Olympic games. Goodman recounted the bizarre incident to the crowd awaiting her speaking engagement in the Olympic city.

No such luck for Calgarians who had hoped to hear Shiva speak tonight.

The CBSA is overseen by minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturism Jason Kenney, a controversial figure for callous remarks regarding refugees, and more recently embroiled in a fund raising scandal.

[A date not kept: India’s famed environmental activist knows all about taking a stand. She’ll be in town on March 9 to discuss democracy, empowerment of women, development, social justice and the environment.  Vandana Shiva speaks Wednesday, March 9, 7 p.m. At Murray Fraser Hall, University of Calgary. $12 – $15. netcommunity.ucalgary.ca/shiva.]

[On March 10th, the University of Calgary’s Consortium for Peace Studies will award Dr. Vandana Shiva, a world-renowned environmental activist from New Dehli, The Calgary Peace Prize. The awards ceremony and banquet will be held at the Calgary Golf & Country Club. Tickets are available via the U of C’s secure Net Community: TICKETS]